Yuri's Night 2009: A Space Exploration Celebration

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Yuri's Night celebrates humankind's bold ventures into space, and is celebrated on the anniversary of Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's 1961 flight into space. The event was founded by Loretta Hidalgo, George Whitesides, and Trish Garner.

From April 4-12, parties will be launching all over the world- check the Yuri's Night site for local info, from Afghanistan to Washington, DC. Indeed, if your city or town doesn't already have a Yuri's Night event, you can host one yourself. Oh, c'mon... you've always wanted to go to a space party! Fun, forward thrust and fashion.

Even NASA gets in on the fun, hosting the annual party in conjunction with its own 50-year anniversary.

Gagarin, an engineer and pilot, was amongst 20 finalists for the first manned mission to space. In a Pop Idol-esque process, Gagarin made it to the top two, but only one would be selected... Gagarin's personality and "modest upbringing" garnered him the prestigious gig, as the mission wouldn't just be a scientific exercise, but a PR exercise as well. The late-50's Russian version of Simon Cowell was obviously impressed.

More on Gagarin's amazing life story here.